Hard surface cleaners comprising an ethoxylated quaternary ammonium compound and an anionic surfactant

ABSTRACT

A hard surface cleaner comprises: an ethoxylated quaternary ammonium compound comprising a C 10-25  ; alkyl or alkenyl radical and a polyalkoxy chain having from 2 to 20 ethoxy groups and from 0 to 2 propoxy groups; a glycol ether and/or a C 1-22  alcohol; and an anionic surfactant.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to compositions for cleaning hardsurfaces, and in particular to compositions suitable for cleaning glassand glossy or shiny surfaces.

A particularly important feature of such compositions is that thesurface when cleaned must not have any streaks or smears and, althoughnumerous-compositions for cleaning glass and like materials have beenproposed, providing compositions which clean effectively whilst avoidingstreaking or smearing has been a particular technical challenge.

A further advantage of cleaning compositions for glass and shiny orglossy surfaces is the ability to reduce or to avoid the build up ofstatic charge. It will be appreciated that the presence of static chargeon the surface causes the rapid re-deposition of dust and like particlesby attraction o such particles onto the surface from the air. Thebenefits achieved by cleaning of the surface are thus rapidlydiminished.

Up until now anionic surfactants have not been added in the samecomposition as cationic surfactants because the anionic surfactantsinterfere with the activity of cationic surfactants in so far asanti-static and anti-microbial properties are concerned. Surprisingly ithas now been found that by using a quaternary ammonium compound as thecationic surfactant, compositions containing a cationic and anionicsurfactant can be made so that the benefit of both the anionicsurfactant (i.e. high detergency and low smearing) and the benefit ofthe cationic surfactants (i.e. good anti-microbial and good anti-staticproperties) can be obtained.

Accordingly, it is an aim of the present invention to provide a cleaningcomposition, in particular for glass and glossy or shiny surfaces, whichhas good cleaning properties, does not cause smears or streaks, and alsohas good anti-microbial activity as well as having good anti-staticproperties, that is, the ability to reduce or prevent the build up ofstatic charge on the surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided an aqueouscleaning composition, preferably a hard surface cleaning composition,comprising:

i) 0.01%-5% of one or more ethoxylated quaternary ammonium compounds(hereinafter component i);

ii) 1%-10% of at least one glycol ether and/or C₁₋₂₂ alcohols(hereinafter component ii); and

iii) 0.005% to 2% of an anionic surfactant (hereinafter component iii);

all percentages being by weight.

Component i) preferably comprises one or more compounds of the formula I

in which

A⁻ is an anion preferably Cl⁻ or SO₄ ⁻;

R is an C₁₀₋₂₅ alkyl or C₁₀₋₂₅ alkenyl radical preferably C₁₂₋₂₂ alkylor C₁₂₋₂₂ alkenyl;

each of R₁ and R₂ independently is selected from hydrogen and C₁₋₆alkyl;

n is preferably a number from 2 to 20, especially 3-6 ; and

m is 0 to 2, preferably 0.

More preferred quaternary ammonium compounds are C₁₂₋₁₆ alkylethoxylated ammonium compounds. Suitable commercially availableethoxylated ammonium compounds include polyethylene glycol products e.g.cocoalkyl pentaethoxymethylammonium methosulphate (PEG-5 cocomoniummethosulphate—derived from coconut fatty acid).

For clarity in formula I the ethylene oxide recurring unit or thepropylene oxide recurring unit may be directly attached to the N atom.

In preferred formulations, component i) is preferably present in a totalamount of from 0.1% to 2% and more preferably from 0.1% to 0.5%.

Component ii) is preferably one or more compounds of the formula II:

R³—O—CH₂—CH(OH)—R⁴  (II)

in which

R³ is a C₂₋₆ alkyl or C₂₋₆ alkenyl; and

R⁴ is a C₁₋₆ alkyl radical preferably C₁₋₄ alkyl.

Particularly preferred glycol ethers are butoxypropanol andmethoxyisopropanol. Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether is also efficacious,but is less preferred for environmental reasons.

Component ii) is preferably present in a total amount of from 2% to 8%,more preferably from 3%-6%, and especially from 3.5% to 5.5%.

Preferably component iii) is selected from sarcosinates, morepreferably, sodium lauroyl sarcosinates. Preferably component iii) ispresent in a total amount of 0.01-1%, more preferably, 0.02-0.5%.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE

In this specification any alkyl group that is capable of being linear orbranched is linear or branched unless indicated to the contrary.

The formulations of the present invention are particularly advantageouswith regard to prior art compositions based on ether carboxylates andnon-ethoxylated quaternary compounds as the latter result in smearingoccurring on cleaning.

Thus, the combination of components i), ii) and iii) in the compositionsof the present invention provide excellent anti-microbial properties andcharge reduction on plastic surfaces whilst at the same time avoidingstreaking and smearing on the surface.

The compositions of the invention may also advantageously include awetting agent, in particular a fatty alcohol ethoxylate such as Volpo T7(Trade Mark) available from Croda. Such a wetting agent may be presentin an amount preferably of from 0.001% to 0.5%, more preferably from0.002% to 0.1%.

The compositions of the invention may also include minor amounts ofoptional ingredients such as fragrances, colourants, ammonia, aceticacid, C₁₋₆ alcohols provided that such optional ingredients do notdeleteriously affect the anti-smearing, antibacterial or anti-staticproperties of the compositions.

Preferably, these optional ingredients are present in an amount of 0 to2%, more preferably 0 to 1%.

In order to illustrate the invention, the following examples wereprepared and tested as illustrated below.

EXAMPLE 1

In order to assess the level of smearing caused by this formulation, asample of the formulation was applied in predetermined amounts to a leandry paper towel which was then applied to a clean g ass mirror tile andmoved once with even pressure across the tile. After allowing the tileto dry, the level of smearing was assessed using a scale of 0 to 4 where4 indicates severe smears or streaks and 0 indicates no smears orstreaks.

The anti-static properties of the formulation was tested using a ChargeDecay Test Unit from John Chubb Instrumentation, Cheltenham, UK. Thetest procedure involves the induction of a static charge on a surfaceand measurement of the time taken for the charge to dissipate. Thelatter time is expressed as 1/e and a lower value indicates a higherrate of charge dissipation and better anti-static properties. Tests werecarried out on glass and on polycarbonate surfaces and the results areindicated below.

Butoxypropanol 2.1 Methoxypropanol 1.8 Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate 0.1Fragrance 0.1 Acid Blue 3 0.015 PEG-5 Cocomonium methosulphate 0.205Water 95.68 Smearing level 0.09 Charge dissipation time 0.38 (glass)Charge dissipation time 0.25 (polycarbonate) Charge dissipation time0.23 (acrylic)

Untreated surfaces were also tested for which the charge dissipationtimes were:

glass 1.6 polycarbonate >600

In comparison to the formulation above, a second formulation without theanionic surfactant was made up as follows:

Butoxypropanol 2.1 Methoxypropanol 1.8 Ammonia (33%) 0.145 Fragrance 0.1Patent Blue 0.001 PEG-5 Cocomonium methosulphate 0.205 Water 95.649Smearing level 0.56 (faded)

EXAMPLE 2

Butoxypropanol 2.1 Methoxypropanol 1.8 Ammonia (33%) 0.145 Fragrance 0.1Duasyn Direct Turquoise 0.015 PEG-5 Cocomonium methosulphate 0.205Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate 0.1 Water 95.535 Smearing level 0.08 Chargedissipation time 0.99 (glass) Charge dissipation time 0.33(polycarbonate) Charge dissipation time 0.34 (acrylic)

EXAMPLE 3

Three formulations were made up according to Table 1 below. Twocompetitor products A and B were also tested. (Product A does not stateits active ingredients and Product B discloses 3.5% w/w isopropanol and0.25% propylene glycol as the active microbiocide ingredients.)

All five formulations were tested for bacterial kill at an in testconcentration of 80% v/v using EN1276 in the presence of 0.3% w/v bovineserum albumin (dirty conditions).

EN1276 is a European Standard describing a suspension test method forestablishing whether a chemical disinfectant or antiseptic has or doesnot have a bactericidal activity. The parameters and tests methodsoutlined in EN1276 are incorporated herein by reference.

The microbiocidal effectiveness results are given in table 2.

TABLE 1 Formulation details Formulation Number 115 115A % w/wButoxypropanol 2.1 2.1 Methoxypropanol 1.8 1.8 Dye 0.015 — Peg-5Cocomonium 0.205 0.205 methosulphate Sodium lauroyl 0.1 0.1 sarcosinatePerfume 0.1 0.1 Ammonia (25%) 0.2 0.2 Soft water 95.48 95.495

Formulation Number 115 has been in storage for one year. FormulationNumber 115A is newly made.

TABLE 2 ME Test Results Microbiocidal Effect (ME) Values Against ConcPs. Sample (% v/v) aeruginosa S. aureus Ent. hirae E. coli 11580 >5.1 >5.5 >5.6 >5.6 >5.5 4.1 >5.4 >5.4 115A80 >5.1 >5.5 >5.6 >5.6 >5.5 4.5 >5.4 >5.4 Prod 80 >5.1 >5.5 4.7 >5.6 4.24.7 >5.4 >5.4 A Prod 80 >5.1 >5.5 3.5 2.6 4.6 4.5 4.6 5.4 B

Both competitor products fail the requirements of EN1276 by fallingshort of the requirements to meet classification as a disinfectant (MEvalues of at least 5.0 against all four test organisms.)

The compositions according to the invention show no loss of activityafter 1 year of storage (Formulation 115) and both formulations achievedan EN1276 pass showing ME values >5.0 against all organisms.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hard surface cleaning composition comprising:(i) from 0.01-5% of one or more ethoxylated quaternary ammoniumcompounds;

wherein: A⁻ is an anion; R is a C₁₀₋₂₅ alkyl or C₁₀₋₂₅ alkenyl radical;each of R₁ and R₂ independently is selected from hydrogen and C₁₋₆alkyl; n is a number from 2 to 20; and m is a number from 0 to 2; (ii)from 1%-10% of at least one glycol ether and/or C₁₋₂₂ alcohol; and (iii)from 0.005 to 2% of an anionic surfactant, all percentages being byweight.
 2. A composition according to claim 1 which component (i) ispresent in an amount of 0.1% to 2%.
 3. A composition according to claim2 in which component (i) is present in an amount of from 0.1% to 0.5%.4. A composition according to claim 1 wherein: A⁻ is chloride ormethosulphate; R is a C₁₂₋₂₂ alkyl or C₁₂₋₂₂ alkenyl radical; n is anumber from 3 to 6; and m is
 0. 5. A composition according to claim 4 inwhich component (i) is cocoalkyl pentaethoxymethylammonium methosulphate(PEG-5 cocomonium methosulphate).
 6. A composition according to claim 1in which component (ii) is a compound of the formula R³—O—CH₂—CH(OH)—R⁴wherein: R³ is a C₁₋₆ alkyl or C₂₀₆ alkenyl radical; and R⁴ is a C₁₋₆alkyl radical.
 7. A composition according to claim 6 wherein R₄ is C₁₋₄alkyl.
 8. A composition according to claim 7 in which component (ii) isbutoxypropanol or methoxyisopropanol.
 9. A composition according toclaim 6 in which component (ii) is present in an amount of from 2% to8%.
 10. A composition according to claim 9 in which component (ii) ispresent in an amount of from 3% to 6%.
 11. A composition according toclaim 1 in which component (iii) is a sarcosinate.
 12. A compositionaccording to claim 11 in which component (iii) is sodium lauroylsarcosinate.
 13. A composition according to claim 11 in which component(iii) is present in an amount of from 0.01% to 1%.
 14. A compositionaccording to claim 1 further including from 0.001 % to 0.5% of a wettingagent.
 15. A composition according to claim 14 in which the wettingagent is a fatty alcohol ethoxylate.
 16. A composition according toclaim 1 further including one or more optional ingredients selected fromfragrances, colourants, ammonia, acetic acid and C₁₋₆ alcohols.
 17. Acomposition as claimed in claim 16 wherein the optional ingredients arepresent in an amount not exceeding 2%.
 18. A method of cleaning a hardsurface which comprises applying thereto a detergently effective amountof an aqueous composition comprising: (i) from 0.01-5% of one or moreethoxylated quaternary ammonium compounds of the formula

wherein: A⁻ is an anion; R is a C₁₀₋₂₅ alkyl or C₁₀₋₂₅ alkenyl radical;each of R₁ and R₂ independently is selected from hydrogen and C₁₋₆alkyl; n is a number from 2 to 20; and m is a number from 0 to 2; (ii)from 1%-10% of at least one glycol ether and/or C₁₋₂₂ alcohol; and (iii)from 0.005 to 2% of an anionic surfactant, all percentages being byweight.
 19. A method according to claim 18 in which the compositioncomprises: (i) from 0.1% to 2% of the ethoxylated quaternary ammoniumcompounds (ii) from 2% to 8% of R³—O—CH₂—CH(OH)—R⁴ wherein: R³ is a C₁₋₆alkyl or C₂₋₆ alkenyl radical; and R⁴ is a C₁₋₆ alkyl radical; and (iii)from 0.01 % to 1% of a sarcosinate.
 20. A method according to claim 19in which, in component (i) A⁻ is chloride or methosulphate; R is aC₁₂₋₂₂ alkyl or C₁₂₋₂₂ alkenyl radical; n is a number from 3 to 6; and mis 0, and component (ii) is butoxypropanol or methoxyisopropanol.
 21. Amethod according to claim 20 in which component (i) is cocoalkylpentaethoxymethylammonium methosulphate and component (iii) is sodiumlauroyl sarcosinate.